Electric safety switch



M rch 1 192 a 7 a. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SAFETY SWITCH File y15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mar h 1 1927.

c B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SAFETY SWITCH File yl 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I'll WII Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMINcEZ? GETCHELL, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUM- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ENECTRIC SAFETY SWITCH.

Application filed July 13,

My invention relates particularly to switches of the protected or enclosed type. The improvements however have to do primarily with the switch mechanism and pro- 6 tective fuse-arrangements.

One object of this invention is to provide a switch construction having the fuses so located with respect to the blades and terminals, that, when the switch is open, the fuses will be entirely disconnected from all associated electrical circuits so that there is no possibility of electrical shock while changlng fuses regardless of which terminals the line wires may be connected to.

in which the circuit may be opened simultaneously at two points by the operation of a single lever.

Another object is to provide a constructionwhich can be made up largely of standard parts such as are commonly employed in knife switch construction.

Another object is to provide a construction in which'the fuses can be removed and installed without danger. Another object is to provide a construction adapted to employ eit 1er cartridge type or plug type fuses.

The form of the invention as herein shown is applicable particularly to what is commonly termed meter service and the switch is adapted for meter testing. The switch may be wired in various ways, for instance .as a single pole switch, a double pole switch, a 5 three wire switch or a three-to-two wire switch.

The drawings show a complete enclosed switch construction embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the switch box closed with the fuse slide opened and with the fuses exposed, the switch being in the open switch circuit position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the conducting parts of a single switch unit in closed circuit position.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view and side elevation on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the switch proper some parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is an end view and partial transverse section.

Another object is to provide a construction.

1926. Serial No. 122,060.

The conducting parts of the switch proper are carried by an insulating body which is preferably formed in two pieces, namely, a base 10 to which the circuit terminals are secured and a top piece 11 which serves as a fuse receptacle. The base has an upright or partition 12 which is grooved to receive a tongue -13 which projects backward from the top piece. The two parts may be secured together in various ways. In the form shown the metal bar 14, constituting a neutral connector strip, is secured to the base by one or more screws 15. An insulating fibre strip 16 may be interposed between the top and bottom insulating members and the screws 17 may be passed down through the top piece and screwed into the bar 14 to hold the top in place.

Each switch unit has the circuit terminal pieces 18 and 19 connected to brackets 20 and 21 .and secured to the base by screws 22 and 23 respectively. The jaw or post member 24 secured to bracket 20 and forms a sup ort forthe swinging or hinged blade 25. spring switch jaw or stationary contact 26is secured to the other bracket 21.

Brackets 27 and 28 are-secured to the top piece 11 by screws 29 and 30 and afford support for the stationary contact jaw 31 and the hinged blade 32. The jaw 31 is adapted to receive the movable end of the blade'25 and the blade 32 is adapted to coact with the stationary contact jaw 26.

The fuse receptacle or top piece 11 carries clips 33 and 34 which are secured in place by the screws 29 and 30 and are adapted to receive a cartridge type fuse 35.

The two blades 25 and 32 are connected by an insulating link 36 which is provided with a forked or slotted arm 37 adapted to receive the crank 38 which passes beneath the base and is pivoted or hinged in the opposite side walls of the-box. This crank is provided with an external handle or operating lever 39;

The box 40 may be of any suitable construction and provided with a cover 41 which is preferably hinged at one end or edge of the box. The cover has an opening 42through which the outer edge of the top piece 11 or fuse receptacle projects. The cover is prothe interlocking of the parts. The side of. the box may also be provided with a guard 48 to which the handle may locked or sealed.

I have shown the invention as applied to a construction having two switch units, one

on each side of the central partition 12. The switch on the right hand of the center is provided' with a cartridge type fuse as above described and the switch on the left is provided with aplug type fuse. The construction is adapted for the use of either type fuse inter changeably, merely requiring the substitution of a screw shell or socket 550 in place of one of the clips such as 33 and a center contact screw 51 in place of the clip 3%. Any

FJI

type of plug fuse 52 may be employed. This plug type receptacle requires a bracket 53 and switch jaw 54: connected with thecenter screw 51. The screw 55 secures the side terminal of the usual socket 50 and the post 56 to the top piece 11. The blade 57 hinged to the post 56 co-acts with the stationary contact- 53 in the base. The stationary post 59 has'a blade 60 hinged to it for co-action with the contact jaw 54. These blades 57 and 60 are connected by a link 61 similar to link 36 f gr corresponding co-act-ion with the crank O a i I have shown a meter testing switch 62 in conjunction with the invention and wish it understood that other additions may be embodied in a construction embodying my present invention.

The construction is quite simple and its operation will be readily understood from an inspection. The movement of the crank 38 throws the links 36 and 61 so as to simultaneuosly move the switch blades to the open circuit position. thus breaking the circuit through each switch unit at two places as the a switch blade 25 leaves the jaw 31 and the switch blade 32 leaves the jaw :26 simultaneously. hen the switch is open it will be seen that both fuse terminals are entirely disconnected from the circuit so that the fuses may be manipulated without coming in contact with any live elements of the circuit.

I claim:

l. A switch comprising an insulating base, a switch contact and a blade carried thereby. an insulating fuse receptacle carried by the base. a switch contact and a hinged blade carried by said receptacle and a link connecting said blades.

1?. A switch comprising two circuit terminals, a stationary contact connected to one terminal, a movable switch blade secured to the other terminal, fuse terminals, a movable switch blade connected to one fuse terminal to co-act with the stationary contact, a stationary contact connected to the other fuse terminal to receivethe first mentioned movable switch blade, a link mechanically connecting said blades and a crank for operating said link.

3. A switch comprising a base, two circuit terminals mounted thereon, a stationary contact secured to one terminal, a movable switch blade hinged to the other terminal, a receptacle mounted on the base, fuse terminals mounted therein, a movable switch blade connected to one fuse terminal to co-act with the stationary contact, a stationary contact cohnected to the other fuse terminal to receive the first mentioned movable switch blade and a link mechanically connecting; said blades.

4. A switch comprising an insulating base, a switch contact and a hinged blade carried thereby, a fuse holder carried by the base, a switch contact and a hinged blade secured to said holder and an insulating link connecting said blades.

5. A switch comprising an insulating base having a partition, aswitch unit mounted on each side of said partition and each comprising two stationary contacts and two hinged blades, an insulating fuse receptacle mounted on said partition, some of the elements of each switch unit being carried by the base and the remainder of the elements of each switch unit being carried by the fuse receptacle.

6. A switch comprising an insulating base having an insulating partition, a fuse receptacle detachably mounted on said artition and a switch unit on each side 0 said partition, each switch unit comprising a sta tionary contact and a hinged blade carried by the base, a co-acting hinged blade and stationary contact carried by the fuse receptacle and a link connecting the blades of each switch unit.

7 A switch construction including an insulating base, a stationary contact and a Switchblade mounted on said base, a fuse receptacle supported by said base and having appurtenant fuse terminals, a. stationary contact connected to one of said terminals and a switch blade connected to the other terminal and a link mechanically connecting said blades,

S. A knife switch construction including a hinge'jaw and a movable blade hinged thereto, a contact jaw for said blade and having a fuse terminal connected therewith, a second hinge jaw having a second movable blade and a second fuse terminal connected therewith, a second contact jaw inoperative relation with said second movable blade and a link connecting said movable blades to cause simultaneous movement of said blades.

9. A switch construction including a hinge jaw, a movable blade pivoted to said jaw, a contact jaw for said blade a fuse terminal connected with said contact jaw, a second I hinge jaw, a second movable blade pivoted to said second hinge jaw, a second fuse terminal connected with said second hinge jaw,

a second contact jaw for said second blade and a link connecting said blades whereby the operating movement of said link causes 1 simultaneous movement of both of said blades.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL. 

